ON-THE-CHEW
05-12-2009, 10:54 PM
Went out on friday, seemed to be the only break in the bloody northerlies for a while. The idea was to head out to some jigging grounds, then troll up to high tide on our way to some shallow reefs to do some popping for the run out.
First drift we picked up a decent amberjack, not massive, a couple of kingies and then some dollies started to swim around the boat. They wouldn't take plastics or jigs, Nathan threw a stick bait out and got three of them. They where not big but he had never caught them before so he was stoked. Taking a photo of them was a different story, he even put gloves on to try and hold them, as all where being released we wanted to do it as quick as possible and they where pretty green.
After the first drift not much else, not a lot of bait either which was weird for this spot, also weird was there was basically no current, it should be really rushing by now. We where getting to the bottom easily with 130g jigs in 80 metres of water.
Decided to head off and start trolling, caught a couple of perfect trolling size bonitos so they went out as well as two skirts and a xwrap. Had a decent hit on the xwrap but no hook up and that was it for trolling.
Got to the popping grounds on the start of the run out. Two other boats there, one trolling back and forward over the reef and another guy driving back over the exact line he was drifting. So it was going to be hard work as it is obvious some people don't understand constant boat noise shuts down fish.
Did quiet a few drifts with the three of us throwing poppers, with no luck, saw the bait and fish where there, got some good signs raising the fish on the sounder, but only got half way up the water column. Decided to chuck a plastic down and got absolutely smashed, very GT like.
Next drift Gordy hooks up and has a bit of weight on the end of the line and up comes a decent cod that went 9.5kg. We tried to swim it for ages but it was not to healthy. The next drift got a decent hit but then dead weight, thought I had caught a cod as well but when we got it about ten metres under the boat I thought I had caught a shark but it turned out to be my first cobia. Once it saw the boat it was a different story, it went nuts, but the steez smashed it. First ever cobia and pb not huge 102cm 6.5kg but healthy looking. Got a few pics and sent him home to put 30kgs on for next time.
Decided to head home as NE's has picked up and our two mates continued to drive over the reef. Got all the way home dry until the bloody bermuda triangle between peel and cleveland point. How is it we can drive in from offshore and through the bay and that is always the one spot we always get wet?
Not a bad day, not a lot of fish, a pb each and a variety of fish, but still a great day to be out on the water.
Andrew
First drift we picked up a decent amberjack, not massive, a couple of kingies and then some dollies started to swim around the boat. They wouldn't take plastics or jigs, Nathan threw a stick bait out and got three of them. They where not big but he had never caught them before so he was stoked. Taking a photo of them was a different story, he even put gloves on to try and hold them, as all where being released we wanted to do it as quick as possible and they where pretty green.
After the first drift not much else, not a lot of bait either which was weird for this spot, also weird was there was basically no current, it should be really rushing by now. We where getting to the bottom easily with 130g jigs in 80 metres of water.
Decided to head off and start trolling, caught a couple of perfect trolling size bonitos so they went out as well as two skirts and a xwrap. Had a decent hit on the xwrap but no hook up and that was it for trolling.
Got to the popping grounds on the start of the run out. Two other boats there, one trolling back and forward over the reef and another guy driving back over the exact line he was drifting. So it was going to be hard work as it is obvious some people don't understand constant boat noise shuts down fish.
Did quiet a few drifts with the three of us throwing poppers, with no luck, saw the bait and fish where there, got some good signs raising the fish on the sounder, but only got half way up the water column. Decided to chuck a plastic down and got absolutely smashed, very GT like.
Next drift Gordy hooks up and has a bit of weight on the end of the line and up comes a decent cod that went 9.5kg. We tried to swim it for ages but it was not to healthy. The next drift got a decent hit but then dead weight, thought I had caught a cod as well but when we got it about ten metres under the boat I thought I had caught a shark but it turned out to be my first cobia. Once it saw the boat it was a different story, it went nuts, but the steez smashed it. First ever cobia and pb not huge 102cm 6.5kg but healthy looking. Got a few pics and sent him home to put 30kgs on for next time.
Decided to head home as NE's has picked up and our two mates continued to drive over the reef. Got all the way home dry until the bloody bermuda triangle between peel and cleveland point. How is it we can drive in from offshore and through the bay and that is always the one spot we always get wet?
Not a bad day, not a lot of fish, a pb each and a variety of fish, but still a great day to be out on the water.
Andrew